'Utter destruction': Teen's $24k crime spree ends in ditch, crashing while fleeing police

A teen who used a crowbar to smash his way into seven businesses before leading police on a 10km pursuit and crashing into a ditch, has no real reason for his crime spree – with his lawyer saying he just “lost the plot” that night.

It was during the early hours of May 5 when, for reasons unknown, Aucklander Eli Tinirau drove to Whangamatā.

The 18-year-old hit Craft Haus first, using a crowbar to smash his way inside through the front door at 12.51am, stealing a safe, till and miscellaneous items.

He then struck Coastal Kitchen, Saskia and Co, Paradise Coast Barbers, Boho Chic and Table Talk, all using his crowbar and stealing tills and small items before fleeing.

He then stopped at Ōpoutere Coastal Camping on Ohui Rd, where he smashed his way into the store and took more items.

The damage totalled $24,690.98.

In court this week Tinirau couldn’t explain why he struck the tiny seaside Coromandel town in the early hours of the morning.

But his lawyer Haley Gane told Judge Tini Clark in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday that he simply “lost the plot”.

He appeared for sentencing on seven charges of burglary, and one each of reckless driving and failing to stop.

When asked by Judge Clark what happened that night, Gane said he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, wasn’t taking his medication and “he just effectively lost the plot”.

“His intention was to kill himself after that,” she said, referring to him fleeing police and crashing.

But Judge Clark questioned why other people had to suffer harm because someone was going through a tough time.

“That makes no sense to me,” she said.

Utter destruction in his wake

Judge Clark said reading through the summary of facts did no justice to the “utter destruction that Mr Tinirau left in his wake”.

At 2.30am, Tinirau was seen driving along State Highway 25 at Ōpoutere, where he crossed the centre-line into the path of a police car heading towards him.

Damage caused by Eli Tinirau to homeware business Table Talk on Port Rd.

The patrol car swerved at the last minute to avoid a crash.

A short time later he was driving along Waihi-Whangamata Rd at Whiritoa, where police signalled him to stop.

He drove off at speed and was involved in a pursuit with police for more than 10km.

He only came to a stop after overtaking a truck and crashing into a ditch.

Judge Clark told Gane she was trying to understand what happened that night.

“Yes, it’s extraordinary offending,” Gane replied.

“And I have read through those victim impact statements to Mr Tinirau today and he got quite upset about the impact he’s had on multiple people,” Gane said.

“Good,” the judge replied.

“He does show a lot of remorse. All I can say on the day, he wasn’t taking his medication, which is essential to his mental health given his diagnosis.

“He was also under the influence of marijuana.”

Eli Tinirau, 18, in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday. Photo / Belinda Feek

But that didn’t gain any sympathy from the judge.

“Both of those things are self-imposed circumstances which do not carry a great deal of weight.

“If you intoxicate yourself that is your decision and that is not a mitigating factor.”

The judge wanted to know what was happening to lead such “utterly destructive” behaviour.

Gane said Tinirau wasn’t thinking about the victims at the time, but he did when reading their victim impact statements.

“This has been, for some, probably a life-altering event,” the judge said.

“And I don’t say that to exaggerate the situation but there’s a lot that would have been felt initially, and in the long term because this type of thing doesn’t just go away once you clean up the glass.

“It affects the whole community.”

Given he was a first offender, Judge Clark agreed to keep Tinirau out of prison and sentenced him to seven months’ home detention, to be served at a Manurewa property, disqualified him from driving for seven months and to pay reparation at $50 a week.

However, she told him, and his whānau who were in court to support him, that he must stay away from alcohol, cannabis and psychoactive substances, especially considering his diagnosis.

“They are not things that help you or your wellbeing.

“You must also take your medication.

“It is not optional,” she told him.

She also banned him from entering Whangamatā during his sentence and six months of post-detention conditions.

“This behaviour is not to be repeated,” the judge said.

Julie Coombe of Table Talk told NZME she was glad it was all over and done with, “and let’s hope he gets some help, if that’s what he needs”.

She said the damage to her shop looked worse than it was due to everything being pushed over, but mainly small items were left broken.

As part of his sentence, Judge Clark ordered Tinirau to pay $1000 reparation to each victim, which Coombe was thankful for.

Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME for 11 years and has been a journalist for 22.